For the last 3 years, an EU-supported project has been working on improving GMO legislation in Ukraine. The Netherlands together with Poland and Latvia supported legislation analysis, and the development of regulations on GMOs and seeds, providing recommendations on their implementation.
On November 21, 2024, the closing conference of the Twinning Project, "Approximation of national legislation of Ukraine in the fields of state supervision (control) of GMOs in open systems, protection of plant variety rights, and seed and seeding production in line with EU norms and standards", took place. Supported by the European Union, this project brought together the efforts of a consortium comprising Latvia, Poland, and the Netherlands, with Ukraine's State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP) as the main beneficiary.
Participants and key remarks
The event brought together representatives from Ukrainian government bodies, international organizations, and professional associations. Participants included the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, the Cabinet of Ministers Secretariat, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, embassies of project member countries, and industry experts.
Christian Ben Hell, Head of the Operational Sector of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, mentioned the main challenges for the project due to the ongoing war. He said that the project was started on April 1, 2021, but it was on hold from March, 1 till November 30 2022 due to the Russian full invasion of Ukraine. Nevertheless, close cooperation of Ukrainian and international experts continued after November 30, 2022, and reaffirmed the EU's commitment as a reliable partner to Ukraine on its integration process.
Kristine Lomakina, the project leader from Latvia, expressed confidence that the project's outcomes would enhance the competitiveness of Ukraine's agricultural sector and bring the country closer to EU membership.
Achievements of the project
The Twinning Project achieved several key milestones such as analyzing critical Ukrainian laws in the areas of GMOs, seed production, and plant variety rights protection, the development of draft laws: "On the Circulation of Genetically Modified Organisms," "On Seed and Plant Varieties Circulation," and "On Plant Variety Rights Protection", conducting eight study visits to Latvia and Poland, eight practical workshops, and numerous consultations involving experts and stakeholders, and the development of a number of recommendation materials on related topics.
The Netherlands role
The Netherlands played an important role in the project, providing substantial expert support. Dutch expertise, represented by Naktuinbouw The Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture, contributed to improving regulatory frameworks in Ukraine. Their practical experience and methodologies were instrumental in developing modern guidelines and recommendations.
A step towards EU integration
The Twinning Project, carried out amidst significant challenges, became a cornerstone in aligning Ukraine's agricultural legislation with EU standards. This achievement not only strengthens Ukraine's agricultural competitiveness but also brings the country closer to its strategic goal of European Union integration.
By fostering international cooperation and knowledge exchange, the Netherlands, alongside Latvia and Poland, helped lay the groundwork for sustainable development in Ukraine's agricultural sector, demonstrating the power of collaborative efforts in overcoming global challenges.
Source: Agroberichten Buitenland